Spokane serves hundreds of homeless teens each year. They attend school during the day and at night, they sleep in a car, a youth shelter, or doubled up at night couch surfing or living with friends and extended family. (Family Promise of Spokane newsletter, August 2015)

Some teenagers leave home because they believe it is their only option for survival. They may have been victims of abuse for years, or caught in addictions leading them to crime and a violent lifestyle.

When there is a youth in crisis,there is a family in crisis.

Statistics

There are 597 students living in a homeless situation (living in cars, motels, with friends or relatives) in Spokane Valley's school districts CVSD, WVSD and EVSD. CVSD has 363 homeless students from 206 families. Over 50% of these Valley students are not living with their legal parent or guardian. (January 2018, CVSD homeless liaison)

"One in 27 students in Spokane County is homeless." There
are 3,000 homeless students in Spokane, a 60% increase in over the last 5
years, according to Priority Spokane. This percentage is 33% higher
than the State average. As a result, Governor Jay Inslee signed House
Bill 1682 in April 2016 which will create grant programs to add liaisons
for the homeless in our schools, rental assistance for their families,
and transportation help, and more. Homeless students have an increase of
behavior problems and depression. (KREM-TV, May 2, 2016)

Priority Spokane shares the following statistics:

3.8% of Spokane's students are homeless - almost 3,000 students. We have seen a 59% increase in the number of homeless students in K-12 in use in the last 5 years. Spokane County’s rate of Homeless students is 19% higher than the state average for K-8th. (Spokane County)

83% of homeless students have experienced a violent event by the age of 12.

Spokane has experienced a 60 percent growth in student
homelessness in the last five years, according to researchers at Eastern
Washington University. The research found Spokane County's rate of
homelessness is 33%
higher than the state average. Of the nearly 3,000 homeless children in
Spokane County schools, 76% of them are doubling up with family and
friends due to evictions and other financial issues.

Priority Spokane, a local nonprofit, is working to fix this problem.
The organization is filming a short film to bring awareness to the issue
because almost 3,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students are
homeless throughout Spokane County.

Priority Spokane Director Ryan Oelrich said
when people think about homelessness, they think about people sleeping
under bridges or holding signs, but homeless students are much less
visible. "Many times, as I've talked to these families, there's a pride
issue. They feel embarrassed, they don't want to ask for help. There's
also a worry that a government agency might intervene and take their
kids, so many times they stay hidden," said Oelrich. (Source: “Study:
Almost 3,000 students in Spokane are homeless, by Raishad Hardnett,
KREM 2 News, October 15, 2015)

What You Can Do

Assist with sit-down meals at a shelter.

Tutor in an alternative high school setting.

Teach computer skills and research skills, such as how to collect and enter data.

Share resume’ preparation and job interviewing skills.

Consult with teens on vocational training projects.

Help provide Christmas for foster or homeless children.

Consider the Adam Fisher family. East Valley's football coach Adam Fisher and his wife Jolene invited Rodrick Jackson to live in their home in 2016. Rodrick had bounced from home to home and lived on the streets, until he told Adam Fisher that he wanted to turn his life around, but he needed help. The Fisher home included 2 middle school-aged daughters. Since moving in with the Fishers in March, Rodrick began to prosper in the classroom and in life, and was considered a part of the family. When Rodrick turns 18 in December, he plans to legally change his last name to Fisher. Adam Fisher said "We are literally living the 'Blind Side' movie."

Rodrick Jackson's story offers hope to other students who have contacted Rodrick and thanked him for inspiring them and having the courage to share his story. A student from an area high school contacted Rodrick through Facebook and said, "My dad's in prison and my mom is a drug dealer. You give me hope." He said he hopes others in tough situations can potentially better themselves, if they have the courage to ask for help. ("Story of East Valley football player Rodrick Jackson gains national interest," by Greg Lee, The Spokesman-Review, NW Preps Now, October 26, 2016)

If you need assistance with finding
shelter, and are located in City of Spokane, please
call Spokane's Homeless Family Coordinated Assessment, before calling
the homeless shelters. The Assessment team will assess your situation,
and direct you to the agencies
which serve your particular needs.

If you need assistance with finding
shelter, and are located in Spokane County and outside of the City of Spokane please contact:Spokane County Community Services Housing, and Community Development Department(an assessment for homelessness and housing)http://www.spokanecountyhprp.com(866) 904-9060Learn
if you are eligible for an application for County-administered
programs, connect to City administered programs, access publicly and
privately funded emergency shelters info, and link to Washington
Connections website to apply other governmental benefits. Crisis Residential Center201 W. 6th AvenueSpokane, WA(509) 624-2868(for youth, runaways, and teens in conflict with family)Crosswalk (ages 13-17)(Volunteers of America)525 W. 2nd AvenueSpokane, WA(509) 838-6596Open: 24/7

HEART (Homeless Education and Resource Team)
is a program in place in various Spokane school districts, which is
designed to address and support the educational needs of students who
find themselves in temporary or transitional housing during the school
year.